The General Prologue
Folio 2v
20 of 21 folios
A knyght þere was & þat a worþi manne
That fro þe time þat he first be ganne
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To ryden owte he loued cheualrie
Treuþe & honoure fredome & curtesie
Ful worþi was he in his lordes werre
And þar to had he riden no man so ferre
As wele in Cristendom as in heyþennesse
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And euere honoured for his worþinesse .
Att Alisander he was whān it was wonne
Ful oft time he had þe borde be gonne
Aboue al nacions in Pruce
In lettowe had he reysed & in Ruce
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No cristeneman so oft of his degre
In Gernade att þe sege eke had he be
Of Algezire and riden had in Belmarye
Att leyes was he and att Satilye
Whan þei were wonne . and in þe grete see
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Att mony a noble Arme had he bee
Att Mortel Batailles had he be fiftene
And fowhten for owre feiþe att Tramessene .
In listes þries & ay sleyne his foo
This ilke worþi knyhte hade bene also
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Some tim wiþe þe lorde of Palatye
Aȝeine anoþer heiþen in Turkye
And euer more he had a souereine prise
And þoughe þat he was worþi he was wise
And of his porte as meke as is a maide
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He neuer ȝit no velany seide
In al his life til no maner wyght
He was a verrey parfite gentil knyht
For to tel ȝowe of his araye
His hors was goode bot he he was nouhte gaye
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Off Fustion he werede a Gepoū
Aƚƚ be smoterde wiþ his haburgen .
For he was late come fro his viage
And went for to done his Pilgrimage
Wiþ hime þare was his sōne a ȝonge swiere
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A louyer & a lusti bachellere
Wiþ lokkes crulle as þei were leide in persse
Of .xx. ȝeres of age he was .I. gesse .
Of his stature he was of euen lengeþe
And wonderly deliuer and grete of strenkeþe